baksheeshes
|bak-sheesh-es|
/ˌbækˈʃiːʃ/
(baksheesh)
small payment to influence or reward
Etymology
'baksheesh' originates from Persian, specifically the word 'bakhshish', where 'bakhsh' meant 'to give' (related to the verb 'bakhshidan' meaning 'to give or grant').
'baksheesh' changed from Ottoman Turkish 'bahşiş' (borrowed from Persian 'bakhshish') and entered English via Urdu/Hindustani in the 17th–19th centuries, eventually becoming the English word 'baksheesh'.
Initially, it meant 'a gift or charitable alms', but over time it evolved into its current use meaning 'a tip, small gratuity, or (sometimes) a bribe'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'baksheesh': small sums of money given as tips, gratuities, or (sometimes) bribes — especially in parts of the Middle East and South Asia.
Tourists often leave baksheeshes for porters and service workers.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/03 08:22